diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
index de12b0777..928b96f41 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
  */
 public abstract class EventProvider implements FeatureProvider {
 
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    @Override
+    public abstract ProviderState getState();
+
     private TriConsumer<EventProvider, ProviderEvent, ProviderEventDetails> onEmit = null;
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
index 933166fac..e1e06d0ab 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ default List<Hook> getProviderHooks() {
      * if they have special initialization needed prior being called for flag
      * evaluation.
      * <p>
-     * It is ok, if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
+     * It is ok if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
      * runtime exceptions will be
      * caught and logged.
      * </p>
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ default void initialize(EvaluationContext evaluationContext) throws Exception {
      * Providers can overwrite this method, if they have special shutdown actions
      * needed.
      * <p>
-     * It is ok, if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
+     * It is ok if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
      * runtime exceptions will be
      * caught and logged.
      * </p>
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@ default void shutdown() {
 
     /**
      * Returns a representation of the current readiness of the provider.
-     * Providers which do not implement this method are assumed to be ready immediately.
+     * If the provider needs to be initialized, it should return {@link ProviderState#NOT_READY}.
+     * If the provider is in an error state, it should return {@link ProviderState#ERROR}.
+     * If the provider is functioning normally, it should return {@link ProviderState#READY}.
+     * 
+     * <p><i>Providers which do not implement this method are assumed to be ready immediately.</i></p>
      * 
      * @return ProviderState
      */
diff --git a/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java b/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
index cb73b5292..3744682b9 100644
--- a/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ public ProviderEvaluation<Value> getObjectEvaluation(String key, Value defaultVa
             // TODO Auto-generated method stub
             throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unimplemented method 'getObjectEvaluation'");
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public ProviderState getState() {
+            return ProviderState.READY;
+        }
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")